Learn About Lead
Loudoun Water’s distribution system is lead free. The term distribution system is used to collectively describe the facilities, pipe, and other equipment used to supply water from its source up to the privately owned service line. The purpose of distribution system is to deliver water to the consumer with appropriate quality, quantity and pressure. The privately owned service line typically begins at the water meter near the edge of the property being serviced. The homeowner (consumer) is responsible for the service line,
Loudoun Water has completed its Lead Service Line Inventory as required by EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. The Virginia Department of Health has accepted the inventory, which contains no lead service lines. If you believe the information on file regarding your service line is incorrect, please contact us.
It is important for consumers to understand how lead can enter your drinking water, the risks, and how to prevent exposure.
Do I Have a Lead Service Line?
Graphic represents a typical residential service line where the privately owned portion of the service line goes from the meter to the building.
FAQs
Q: Was your property built after August 1,1978?
A: If the answer is yes, it is highly unlikely that you have a lead service line.
Q: Was your property built before August 1,1978?
A: Loudoun Water completed a statistical sampling of all properties built before 1979 and has a 95% level of confidence that the distribution system for the waterworks is constructed entirely of non-lead service line materials. Properties that have not yet been field verified have been designated as “Non-Lead (Predictive Model)”. If you have further documentation or believe this information is incorrect, please contact us.
Q: How can I determine if my service line is made of lead?
A: There are various methods of confirming the material of your service line. The following types of documents may be a helpful place to start before contacting a plumber.
1. Homeowner Inspection Reports
2. Contractor/Plumber Reports
3. Building Plans
4. Records of a Service Line Replacement
Q: I have located documentation stating the material of my service line. What should I do with this?
A: Please provide an electronic copy of this documentation to Loudoun Water HERE. Upon completion of the service line inventory in 2024, your property’s service line material status will be updated accordingly.
Q:My service line record states that it is “Non-Lead (Predictive Model)”. What does this mean?
A: Loudoun Water identified an unbiased and representative sample of service lines having an unknown material to physically verify, all of which were confirmed to be non-lead (copper or plastic). This sample was statistically representative of the unknowns with respect to periods of construction as well as spatially representative. In addition, a stratified random sampling was used to divide the population into homogenous subgroups by period of construction and spatial tiles to ensure the sample was proportional to its magnitude of the population of unknowns. The result provides Loudoun Water with a minimum of 95% +/- 5% confidence level that all unknown service lines are non-lead.
Q: Loudoun Water’s records state that my service line is Unknown. What does that mean?
A: EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) require all utilities to identify whether the material of a water service line is lead or not. If your service line is listed as Unknown, it means documentation has not been received or an opportunity to expose the service line and verify material has not yet happened. If you have documentation that can help verify that material or your service line, please submit this at https://www.loudounwater.org/content/submit-water-service-line-information.
Q. How can I reduce my exposure to lead in drinking water?
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Flush faucets before using water for cooking or drinking: Run your cold water tap until you notice a temperature change, then run for an additional two minutes before using it for drinking or cooking. This brings in fresh water from the lead-free water main in the street. (Conservation Tip: save the water for other purposes, such as plant watering)
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Use only water from the cold-water tap for drinking, cooking and especially for making baby formula. Hot water may contain higher levels of lead.
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Use filtered tap water for drinking, cooking, and baby formula: Be sure to select a filter certified to meet NSF Standard 53 (www.nsf.org) for lead removal.
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Clean faucet aerators every three months.
